50 Great Greek Wines 2023
The awards “50 Great Greek Wines” are the creation of
Yiannis Karakasis, Greece ‘s second Master of Wine. As he states, they started
as an idea to give Greek wine producers a recognizable identity to wine lovers all
over the world. Although
2023 is just their third year, they quickly became recognizable among
the competitions that evaluate Greek wines.
The
result list will no longer number the top 50 wines from first to last, since
the distinction of being included in the list is very important itself. Only
the first five (5) wines that stand out per category will be ranked. The
ratings have been compiled by experienced wine professionals, who hold the
Master of Wine title.
The
award is a piece of art, a modern goblet (kylix), a vessel in which the ancient
Greeks consumed their own wine. A series of Greek and Cypriot wines with native
or international varieties are put under the magnifying glass of the committee
and evaluated with blind tasting. It is important to state that all wines are
purchased from the market and not supplied by the producers, in order to ensure
the integrity of the competition. After two phases of evaluation, the results
emerge.
But, let us not keep you waiting any longer. Here are the official results of the awards 50 Great Greek Wines 2023:
50 Great Greek Wines
(in alphabetical order)
- Alexakis Winery, Vidiano Orange 2020, Crete
- Alpha Estate, Rosé Single Vineyard Hedgehog 2022, Xinomavro, Amyndeon
- Aoton Winery, Retsina NV, Savatiano, Attica
- Estate Argyros, Cuvée Evdemon 2017, Assyrtiko, Santorini
- Artemis Karamolegos Winery, Kamaras 2020, Assyrtiko, Santorini
- Artemis Karamolegos Winery, Pyritis 2020, Assyrtiko, Santorini
- Athanasiou Winery, Thronos 2022, Agiorgitiko, Nemea
- Avantis Estate, Falcons Hill 2021, Malagousia /Sauvignon Blanc, Evia
- Ktima Biblia Chora, Ovilos White 2022, Assyrtiko /Semillon, Pangeon, Macedonia
- Charalaboglou Wines, Malagouzia in Anthesis 2022, Macedonia
- Chatzivaritis Winery, Mi – Mi(nimus) 2021, Assyrtiko, Slopes of Paiko, Macedonia
- Douloufakis Winery, Aspros Lagos 2022, Vidiano, Crete
- Efrosini Winery, Sophia 2022, Chardonnay /Vidiano, Crete
- Ézousa Winery, Xinisteri 2022, Paphos, Cyprus
- Gavalas Winery, Santorini 2022, Assyrtiko, Santorini
- Gavalas Winery, Santorini Natural Ferment 2022, Assyrtiko, Santorini
- Klima Grampsa, Verdea Traditionelle 2020, Skiadopoulo blend /Pavlos, Zakynthos
- Domaine Karanika, Extra Cuvée De Reserve 2017, Xinomavro, Macedonia
- Kechris Winery, Tear of the Pine NV, Assyrtiko, Macedonia
- Ktima Kir-Yianni, Ramnista 2019, Xinomavro, Naousa
- Ktima Kir-Yianni, Scaperdas Frères Rosé NV, Xinomavro, Macedonia
- Lyrarakis Winery, Dafni Psarades 2022, Crete
- Lyrarakis Winery, Liatiko Aggelis 2021, Crete
- Makarounas Vineyards, Spourtiko 2022, Paphos, Cyprus
- Makarounas Vineyards, Yiannoudi 2020, Paphos, Cyprus
- Markovitis Winery, Naoussa 2019, Xinomavro, Macedonia
- Mega Spileo Estate, Mega Spileo Orange 2016, Roditis /Malvasia, Peloponnese
- Methymnaeos Organic Winery, Methymnaeos Orange 2022, Chidiriotiko, Lesvos
- Mikra Thira Winery, Nikteri 2020, Assyrtiko /Aidani, Santorini
- Mikra Thira Winery, Santorini 2021, Assyrtiko, Santorini
- Mikra Thira Winery, TerraSea 2021, Assyrtiko, Santorini
- Moinoterra Winery, Moschato Spinas 2022, Crete
- Moinoterra Winery, Vilana 2022, Crete
- Monemvasia Winery Tsimbidi, Kydonitsa Mature 2019, Peloponnese
- Mylonas Winery, Cuvée Vouno Savatiano 2019, Attica
- Oenops Wines, Limniona 2021, Macedonia
- Petrakopoulos Wines, Thymari Petras 2022, Robola, Cephalonia
- Poultsidis Winery, Selene Orange 2022, Assyrtiko, Thessaly
- Sclavos Wines, Metagitnion 2022, Goustolidi, Cephalonia
- Silva Daskalaki Winery, Vorinos 2022, Vidiano, Crete
- Domaine Skouras, Nemea 2021, Agiorgitiko, Peloponnese
- Troupis Winery, Hoof & Lur 2022, Moschofilero, Peloponnese
- Troupis Winery, Pitys Ritinitis NV, Assyrtiko, Peloponnese
- Troupis Winey, Route Gris 2022, Moschofilero, Peloponnese
- Tsiakkas Winery, Promara 2021, Limassol, Cyprus
- Volacus Wine, Malagousia 2022, Tinos
- Vouni Panayia Winery, Whole Bunch Xynisteri Orange 2019, Paphos, Cyprus
- Vriniotis Winery, Retsina of Gialtra NV, Roditis, Evia
- Ktima Zafeirakis, Limniona Young Vineyards 2020, Thessaly
Two wines of the list above really standed out to the committee, for presenting exceptional quality for third time in a row. They were given the “Hall of Fame” Certificate, and these were:
Below are listed the 16 categories:
Assyrtiko
- Mikra Thira Winery, TerraSea 2021, Assyrtiko, Santorini
- Estate Argyros, Cuvée Evdemon 2017, Assyrtiko, Santorini
- Chatzivaritis Winery, Mi - Mi(nimus) 2021, Assyrtiko, Slopes of Paiko, Macedonia
- Artemis Karamolegos Winery, Pyritis 2020, Assyrtiko, Santorini
- Gavalas Winery, Santorini Natural Ferment 2022, Assyrtiko, Santorini
Indigenous Whites
- Mylonas Winery, Cuvée Vouno Savatiano 2019, Attica
- Makarounas Vineyards, Spourtiko 2022, Paphos, Cyprus
- Sclavos Wines, Metagitnion 2022, Goustolidi, Cephalonia
- Lyrarakis Winery, Dafni Psarades 2022, Crete
- Monemvasia Winery Tsimbidi, Kydonitsa Mature 2019, Peloponnese
Other Whites
- Efrosini Winery, Sophia 2022, Chardonnay/Vidiano, Crete
- Ktima Biblia Chora, Ovilos White 2022, Assyrtiko /Semillon, Pangaio, Macedonia
- Avantis Estate, Falcons Hill 2021, Malagousia / Sauvignon Blanc, Evia
- Ktima Gerovassiliou, Ktima Gerovassiliou White 2022, Malagousia /Assyrtiko, Macedonia
- Kyperounda Winery, Epos 2022, Chardonnay, Limassol, Cyprus
Agiorgitiko & Xinomavro
- Markovitis Winery, Naoussa 2019, Macedonia
- Domaine Skouras, Nemea 2021, Agiorgitiko, Peloponnese
- Ktima Kir-Yianni, Ramnista 2019, Xinomavro, Naousa
- Athanasiou Winery, Thronos 2022, Agiorgitiko, Nemea
- Athanasiou Winery, Thronos 2021, Agiorgitiko, Nemea
Indigenous Reds
- Oenops Wines, Limniona 2021, Macedonia
- Makarounas Vineyards, Yiannoudi 2020, Paphos, Cyprus
- Ktima Zafeirakis, Limniona Young Vineyards 2020, Thessaly
- Lyrarakis Winery, Liatiko Aggelis 2021, Crete
- Alexakis Winery, Kotsifali 2020, Crete
Other Reds
- Avantis Estate, Collection, Syrah 2019, Evia
- Manolesakis Winery, Pelagia 2019, Pinot Noir /Agiorgitiko, Macedonia
- Kanakaris Winery, Wild 2021, Merlot / Syrah, Slopes of Aigialeia, Peloponnese
- Georgios Lafazanis Winery, Orosimo 2020, Cabernet Sauvignon /Merlot, Attica
- Domaine Costa Lazaridi, Syrah 2021, Drama, Macedonia
Rosés
- Troupis Winery, Hoof & Lur 2022, Moschofilero, Peloponnese
- Troupis Winery, Route Gris 2022, Moschofilero, Peloponnese
- Alpha Estate, Rosé Single Vineyard Hedgehog 2022, Xinomavro, Amyndeon
- Noema Winery, Eruption 2022, Xinomavro, Amyndeo
- Novus Winery, Acquarella 2022, Moschofilero / Assyrtiko, Peloponnese
Sparkling Wines
- Domaine Karanika, Extra Cuvée De Reserve 2017, Xinomavro, Macedonia
- Ktima Kir-Yianni, Scaperdas Frères Rosé NV, Xinomavro, Macedonia
- Domaine Karanika, Cuvée Prestige 2017, Assyrtiko /Xinomavro, Macedonia
Traditional Wines
- Vouni Panayia Winery, Whole Bunch Xynisteri Orange 2019, Paphos, Cyprus
- Troupis Winery, Pitys Ritinitis NV, Assyrtiko, Peloponnese
- Klima Grampsa, Verdea Traditionelle 2020, Skiadopoulo blend, Pavlos, Zakynthos
Low Intervetion Wines
- Chatzivaritis Winery, Mi - Mi(nimus) 2021, Assyrtiko, Slopes of Paiko, Macedonia
- Sclavos Wines, Metagitnion 2022, Goustolidi, Cephalonia
- Domaine Karanika, Extra Cuvée De Reserve 2017, Xinomavro, Macedonia
Variety Focus- Savatiano
- Mylonas Winery, Cuvée Vouno Savatiano 2019, Attica
- Aoton Winery, Retsina 2020, Savatiano, Attica
- Markou Vineyards, Phenomena 2020, Savatiano, Attica
Old Vines
- Mylonas Winery, Cuvée Vouno Savatiano 2019, Attica
- Sclavos Wines, Metagitnion 2022, Goustolidi, Cephalonia
- Lyrarakis Winery, Liatiko Aggelis 2021, Crete
Value for Money
- Domaine Skouras, Nemea 2021, Agiorgitiko, Nemea
- Ézousa Winery, Xinisteri 2022, Paphos, Cyprus
- Charalaboglou Wines, Malagouzia in Anthesis 2022, Macedonia
- Athanasiou Winery, Thronos 2022, Agiorgitiko, Nemea
- Silva Daskalaki Winery, Vorinos 2022, Vidiano, Crete
Sweet Wines
- Estate Argyros, Vinsanto Late Release 2003, Assyrtiko /Athiri /Aidani, Santorini
- Kounaki Wines, Sweet Orange 2020, Moschato Aspro /Malagousia, Rodos
- Artemis Karamolegos Winery, Vinsanto 2010, Assyrtiko /Aidani, Santorini
- Zambartas Wineries, Commandaria Melusine 2011, Xinisteri, Limassol, Cyprus
- Santo Wines, Vinsanto 20 Years Aging 2002, Assyrtiko /Aidani, Santorini
Cyprus Wines
- Vouni Panayia Winery, Whole Bunch Xynisteri Orange 2019, Paphos, Cyprus
- Makarounas Vineyards, Spourtiko 2022, Paphos, Cyprus
- Makarounas Vineyards, Yiannoudi 2020, Paphos, Cyprus
- Ézousa Winery, Xinisteri 2022, Paphos, Cyprus
- Tsiakkas Winery, Promara 2021, Limassol, Cyprus